Growing Up B2B

George LaCapra spent nearly a decade on the factory floor before becoming president of his family’s metal-finishing business. When his brother chose a different path, George moved into the office and worked his way up.

On Growing Up B2B, host Ed Delia speaks with George, President of UniMetal Surface Finishing, about how a 2011 merger with a respected competitor expanded the company’s capabilities, why integrating the cultures of two facilities took years, and how his 88-year-old father still contributes while giving the next generation room to lead. George also describes a hands-on, accredited training program developed with industry competitors to prepare new workers for a trade most people can’t study in school.

Check out George's work at UniMetal Surface Finishing HERE.

Connect with George on LinkedIn HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

Just Packaging, Inc. began with a partner’s phone calls, and a first job that grew out of a conflict-of-interest scare. Steve Fischbein soon left his own job, and the company grew from a basement in a newspaper building to roughly 200,000 square feet.

On this episode of Growing Up B2B, Steve and his sons, Evan and Jesse, share how the brothers worked their way through the business, pursued careers in finance, and eventually found their way back; why Steve says the hardest part of succession is giving up decisions; and how the family is preparing for a future shaped by technology, changing supply chains, and a new generation of leadership.

Check out Steve, Evan, and Jesse's work at Just Packaging, Inc. HERE.

Connect with Steve on LinkedIn HERE.

Connect with Evan on LinkedIn HERE.

Connect with Jesse on LinkedIn HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

After joining Withum as a staff accountant, Theresa Richardson rose to partner and became the firm’s first chief talent officer, helping guide its growth from about 75 people to 3,300.

In this episode of Growing Up B2B, your host Ed Delia talks with Richardson about how her CPA experience shaped her approach to developing talent, why Withum replaced traditional mentoring with dedicated career coaching, and how the firm is preparing new accountants for work increasingly handled by AI. They also discuss what keeps people engaged, which qualities mark emerging leaders, and why family businesses are better off treating succession as a process, not a one-time event.

Check out Theresa's work HERE.

Connect with Theresa on LinkedIn HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

In this episode of Growing Up B2B, your host Ed Delia speaks with Matt Dusa about building and selling Capstone Fire and Safety Management, a family-owned business he co-founded with his father and brother in 2007.

Matt shares how they navigated challenges like seasonality, geographic expansion, and family dynamics while scaling the company using the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS). He discusses bringing in outside leadership, eventually selling to Global Medical Response in 2021, and the emotional transition from owner to corporate executive. Matt now applies his experience as an EOS implementer, helping family businesses scale and reduce owner dependency.

Check out Matt's work HERE.

Connect with Matt on LinkedIn HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

In this episode of Growing Up B2B, your host Ed Delia speaks with Shawn Kuehn, former President of Kuehn Bevel, Inc., a family manufacturing business.

Shawn shares his journey from sweeping factory floors as a kid to leading the company, and the hard lessons learned when a shrinking market forced difficult decisions. He discusses how understanding business numbers and building owner-independent systems transformed operations—and ultimately shaped his current venture, Work Faster, Play Longer. Shawn also offers practical advice for second-generation leaders navigating change while honoring what the first generation built.

Check out Shawn's work at Work Faster, Play Longer HERE.

Connect with Shawn on LinkedIn HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

In this episode of Growing Up B2B, your host Ed Delia interviews Jonathan Goldhill, founder of the Goldhill Group and author of Disruptive Successor.

Drawing from his family's multi-generational apparel business, which closed in 1986, Jonathan explores the challenges of family business succession. He discusses how next-generation leaders can earn credibility, balance preserving legacy values while modernizing operations, and navigate complex family dynamics. Key topics include authority versus responsibility, sibling fairness, and the emotional intelligence required for effective leadership transitions.

Check out Jonathan's work at the Goldhill Group HERE.

Connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn HERE.

Check out Jonathan's book, Disruptive Successor, HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

In this episode of Growing Up B2B, host Ed Delia speaks with Nitin Khanna, Founder and President of N3 Business Advisors, about building and transferring construction businesses.

Nitin shares his entrepreneurial journey, from selling pashminas at age 11 to founding a Canadian M&A advisory firm. They explore what makes construction businesses transferable, why owner dependency destroys value, and how reducing reliance on the owner improves both profitability and saleability. Nitin outlines the five exit paths available to business owners and emphasizes that every owner eventually exits, the question is simply how. The conversation offers practical insights for family business owners planning their next chapter.

Check out Nitin's work at N3 Business Advisors HERE.

Connect with Nitin on LinkedIn HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

In this episode of Growing Up B2B, your host Ed Delia speaks with Maria and Ron Ferguson of Ferguson Associates, a family-owned third-party logistics company specializing in luxury fragrances and cosmetics.

Founded by Bob Ferguson, who left a distinguished corporate career to pursue entrepreneurship, the company has built a sterling reputation for discretion, security, and white-glove service. Maria and Ron discuss Bob's entrepreneurial journey, the dynamics of family succession, navigating COVID-19, and embracing technology while preserving human connection. They reflect on honoring Bob's legacy, who passed away last September, while confidently shaping Ferguson Associates' future.

Check out Ron and Maria's work at Ferguson Associates HERE.

Connect with Ron on LinkedIn HERE.

Connect with Maria on LinkedIn HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

In this episode of Growing Up B2B, your host Ed Delia interviews Lisa Troost Sottrel, fifth-generation President of Peter Troost Monument Company, the largest privately owned monument company in the U.S.

Lisa shares her journey from working at GE to leading her family's nearly 140-year-old business, discussing the importance of outside experience, earning credibility, and navigating leadership transitions. She reflects on modernizing operations, balancing tradition with innovation, and maintaining a compassionate culture in a sensitive industry. Lisa also explores future growth opportunities in restoration and pre-planning, while candidly addressing the challenges of preparing for a potential sixth generation.

Check out Lisa's work HERE.

Connect with Lisa on LinkedIn HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

In this episode of Growing Up B2B, your host Ed Delia speaks with Brian Glenn, Chief Investment Officer at Premier Path Wealth Partners. Brian shares insights from his family's business history, including his grandfather's founding of Glen Killion Color Company and the subsequent financial losses tied to Penn Central's bankruptcy. The conversation explores how outside investors spot blind spots owners miss, what separates thriving businesses from stagnant ones, and why preparing for a business transition requires more than financial readiness. Brian emphasizes that building wealth and preserving it are connected but distinct challenges requiring years of intentional planning.

Check out Brian's work HERE.

Connect with Brian on LinkedIn HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.